SOFTBALL: Corona Angels confident entering PGF National Championships

CORONA – Marty Tyson never lets one of his softball teams rest on their laurels.

The Corona Angels 18 Gold team is one of the hottest travel ball teams in the nation at the moment, having won championships at three straight tournaments. But those are in the past. Tyson’s concern now is the present, as his Angels prepare to play at the prestigious Premier Girls Fastpitch National Championships.

“The girls have been playing really well, but what’s done is done,” Tyson said. “The biggest worry I have as a coach is a team peaking too early. It’s been a great summer for sure, but there’s a new goal ahead and that means trying to improve.”

The squad kicked off their summer campaign by capturing the championship at the Independence Day Tournament in Boulder, Colo. In the semis, the Angels knocked off the OC Batbusters, widely seen as the nation’s top team this season. The Angels went on to defeat the Missouri Originals in the championship game.

The Angels then returned to California for the ASA Champions Cup in Irvine, and they eventually were declared co-champions after some unusual circumstances left both of the finalists unable to compete. The Angels had to catch a flight for their next tournament, and the Arizona Hotshots had been decimated by injuries.

Next up for the Angels was the Triple Crown USA Nationals in Georgia. The team went unbeaten over three days and captured the title for the first time since 2010. The Angels beat their longtime nemesis, the Orange County-based Firecrackers, in the semis, and defeated the East Cobb (Ga.) Bullets in the championship game.

“We’ve beaten some of the best teams in the nation, so our confidence is high,” said Ohio State-bound infielder Ashley Goodwin, a recent Norco High graduate. “It has been a very long process, but we have really come together as a team.”

“Having that kind of talent certainly does help, but I believe the true strength of this team has been chemistry,” Tyson said. “Most of these girls have been on the same teams since they were 12 years old, and these bonds keep getting stronger.”

Tyson gave his players four days off following their tournament win in Georgia, but the team was back on the diamond earlier this week for three days of practice. The Angels will play a doubleheader this afternoon at Norco High against Carolina Elite, coached by former Norco assistant coach Tony Genovese. Tyson refers to these final few days of practice and preparation as “Hell Week.”

“It definitely can be hard at times, but we always find a way to push through it,” said Florida State-bound outfielder Zoe Casas out of San Bernardino Aquinas. “We know we’re tired, but that ultimate goal of winning PGF keeps driving us.”

The Angels tied for third at the inaugural PGF National Championships in 2010, but that has been followed by a ninth-place finish and two 13th-place finishes over the past three years. Tyson hopes his team ends that series of disappointing results.

“We need to carry the momentum from these past few tournaments and come out and play strong for one more week,” Tyson said. “PGF is the best of the best in the entire nation, and you need to bring your very best game if you want to win.”

The Angels will play a pair of pool-play games Sunday and one more on Monday. The team will open bracket play Tuesday against a team to be determined by a blind draw tonight. The championship will be played Aug. 2. in Irvine.